The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke

XXXI. That, notwithstanding the disorders and deficiencies in the revenue aforesaid had
continued and increased, and that three very large balances had accumulated, the said
Warren Hastings did cause the Treasury accounts at Calcutta to be examined and
scrutinized, and an account of another arrear, composed of various articles, pretended to
have accumulated during seven years previous to the year 1779, (the articles composing
which, if they had been just, ought to have been charged at the times they severally became
due,) was sent to the Resident, and payment thereof demanded, to the amount of 260,000l.
sterling; which unexpected demand, in so distressed a situation, did not a little embarrass
the Nabob. But whilst he and his ministers were examining into the said unexpected
demand, another, and fifth balance, made up of similar forgotten articles, was demanded, to
the amount of 140,000l. sterling more. Which said two last demands did so terrify and
confound the Nabob and his ministers, that they declared that the Resident "might at once
take the country, since justice was out of the question."

XXXII. That the said Hastings, in order to add to the confusion, perplexity, and distress of
the Nabob's affairs, did send to his court (in which he had already a Resident and Assistant
Resident) two secret agents, Major Palmer and Major Davy, and did instruct Major Palmer
to make a variety of new claims, one of a loan to the Company of 600,000l. sterling,
although he well knew the Nabob was himself heavily in arrear to the Company, and was
utterly unable to discharge the same, as well as in arrear to his own troops, and to many
individuals, and that he borrowed (when he could at all borrow) at an interest of near thirty
per cent. To this demand was added a new bribe, or unlawful present, to himself, to the
amount of 100,000l. sterling, which he did not refuse as unlawful and of evil example, but
as indelicate in the Nabob's present situation,—and did, as if the same was his own

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